Classification / Names
Common names | Synonyms | Catalog of Fishes(genus, species) | ITIS | CoL | WoRMS | Cloffa
Teleostei (teleosts) >
Perciformes/Zoarcoidei (Eelpouts and pricklebacks) >
Zoarcidae (Eelpouts) > Gymnelinae
Etymology: Melanostigma: Greek, melan, -anos = black + Greek, stigma = signal (Ref. 45335); bellingshauseni: Named for Faddei Faddeevich Bellingshausen (1778-1852), the famous Russian naval navigator, commander of the Russian around-the-world naval expedition in 1819-1821. During that expedition, 200 year ago, on January 16 (old style), 1820 at latitude 69°21'28" S, 2°14'50" W the continent of Antarctica was discovered.
Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range
Ecology
Marine; bathydemersal; depth range 1000 - 1010 m (Ref. 123831). Deep-water
Southern Indian Ocean: Kerguelen Plateau.
Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm ? range ? - ? cm
Max length : 19.4 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 123831)
Short description
Identification keys | Morphology | Morphometrics
Vertebrae: 86 - 91. This species is distinguished by the following characters: supratemporal commissure complete (full), without interruptions and losses of segments; no coronal commissure; with pore in the temporal canal; body lateral line with three series of neuromasts (predorsal, dorsolateral, and mediolateral); gill rakers on the first branchial arch 27 (23-27), of which 13 (10-13) in external row; 14 (13-16) in internal row; pectoral-fin rays 8; vertebrae 87 (86-91) including 21 (21-23) abdominal and 66 (68-71) caudal vertebrae; maxilla length 7.4 (6.5-7.8)% SL; upper lip coalesce with snout; abdominal vertebrae is slightly asymmetrical; length of anterior
part of the center of vertebrae (in area of fifth to eighth vertebrae) 70-92% of length of its posterior part; body and head including snout tip, nostril tubes, and oral cavity light; tail with dark stripe at tips of dorsal, anal, and caudal fins (Ref. 123831).
Life cycle and mating behavior
Maturity | Reproduction | Spawning | Eggs | Fecundity | Larvae
Orlovskaya, M.V. and A.V. Balushkin, 2020. Melanostigma bellingshauseni sp. n. (Zoarcidae): a new pelagic eelpout from large depths in the Central Part of the Kerguelen Plateau (Southern Ocean). J. Ichthyol. 60(6):900-908. (Ref. 123831)
IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 130435: Version 2024-2)
Threat to humans
Harmless
Human uses
Tools
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